Stitching Genes

Sometimes I conjure images of being brought into this world with skis on my feet and a sewing needle in my fingers. Actually it was my mother who taught me to love and crave all things creative and specifically sewing. The first daughter after two sons, the day I was born my father marched to the Bernina store and bought my mother the nicest sewing machine they made...she still has it! They don't make them like they used to. Mom taught me that the inside of everything I stitched must be as beautiful as the outside, and to have pride in everything I create. Making something with your hands with nothing but the simplicity of thread moving in and out of fabric...is so satisfying. Being of Danish descent, I come from a line of creative women...you might even say it is in my genes. Since I've stitched a few quilts in my lifetime...ok quite a few...I've started making quilts that are challenging, often taking months or even years to complete.

This is one of those. The pattern is a Sue Spargo design which shows off Sue's love of vivid color and folk art.

At first glance you may miss all the details on this quilt. For instance this Eagle's chest is filled with tiny punched wool circles sewed on with french knots.

 Every single applique has been embellished with Valdani threads, silk threads, buttons, and more using a myriad of embroidery stitches.

Finishing the quilt late last summer, I decided to share it at our local county fair. Handing my quilt off to the helpers accepting all the local hand-made quilts, the woman gazed off-handedly at my work, thinking I had embellished the quilt with a little trim here and there.

Upon closer examination, her mouth gaped when she realized the hours and hours of work I obviously had put into this little wall hanging sized quilt.

These little adorable gold stitches are called drizzle stitches.

This quilt sat in my lap for months as block by block I added details,

and fell in love with every single inch of it.

As it turned out my quilt was well received winning the grand prize ribbon of the fair. Not long after, I received offers to purchase it. The price seemed so extravagant for such a little quilt. But this bright piece of my handwork had stitched it's way into my heart and there was no way I was willing to give it up. Today I finally hung it on my quilt wall...and it makes me so happy to see it hanging there.

That's a Wrap

Just a couple months ago on Thanksgiving morning, the family was busy making pies, peeling potatoes and basting turkeys; when I heard the familiar text message sound from my phone. "KSL.com page Two" was all she sent. KSL is an NBC-affiliated television/media station located in Salt Lake City, Utah. We dropped everything to read this KSL article written by my talented friend Michelle. It was such a joy to read words written about Jocie, especially on Thanksgiving Day. My heart burst with gratitude for Jocie's life and legacy. 


But you can just imagine our surprise and (dare I say) fright when I received a phone call from KSL just a few weeks ago. Would Dean and I consent to our story being brought to video form and broadcast on KSL's Studio 5 program? I had been out shopping and somehow during the phone call I exited the store, slipped on ice, fell, dropped my phone cracking the screen, and said yes!

The first Monday in February brought a senior KSL producer and her video technician to our home. Irinna had previously sent a list of questions that she would be asking us during the interview process to help us prepare. Many of the questions were difficult, extremely difficult...tell us about Jocie, how does she complete your family. Tell us about the details of the day of the accident. Tell us what it is like to lose a child...then and now. 

What is it like to lose a child...there isn't a single day that I wish we were still innocent of this knowledge. Unless you find yourself in this horrible, awful, no good club...it's nearly impossible to know. And it crushes me every time I hear of another parent losing their own innocence. With tears in her eyes, Irinna listened to the details she graciously pushed us to recount. This would be the first time Dean and I had openly discussed together...what exactly happened that March day nearly five years ago.

After an exhausting interview filming session, we breathed a sigh of relief and Thompson the video guru began shooting various footage in my craft room,

and Jiggystick World Headquarters.

This was the easy part, talking about jiggysticks and actually making a batch while the video was recording.

After about 2 1/2 hours they packed up their gear and left. Irinna asked if we considered ourselves an inspiration. We both emphatically exclaimed "NO"! However, if because of this interview there is one person somewhere, engaged in fighting a similar battle...watching us breath, stand upright, smile, and even laugh...then this segment will be absolutely worth it.

While I know our little video surely is not a blockbuster with a cliffhanger ending. If after all the footage is edited and most of it on the cutting room floor, you would like to watch us...the segment is scheduled to air on KSL Studio 5 Wednesday Feb 20th, sometime between 11:00 am and 12:00 noon (mountain standard time). You can click on the "Watch It Live" button on their site and watch it from KSL Studio 5's website if you don't live within KSL's broadcast range to watch it on TV.